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UA-Fort Smith plans to construct new building

The University of Arkansas at Fort Smith says it plans to construct a $15.5 million visual arts building to bring the school's arts-related programs under one roof.

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports (http://bit.ly/1fgN2Wf ) CDI Contractors of Little Rock and Fayetteville were hired last week to manage construction of the 58,000-square-foot building that's scheduled to open in the fall of 2015.

The building will house gallery spaces, printmaking operations, graphic design laboratories and spaces for photography, painting, sculpture and art history.

School officials say the site also will include a 150-seat film theater.

The university currently has about 120 graphic design majors and 50 studio art majors.